Gamma secretase modulators for the treatment of immune system dysfunction

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of treating an immune system dysfunction or conditions associated with soluble BCMA using gamma secretase modulators or inhibitors in order to both restore immune function and improve the efficacy of therapies directed against BCMA present on the pathogenic B cell.

Wwhat is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing an immune system dysfunction in a subject comprising administering to the subject one or more gamma secretase modulators or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A method of decreasing BCMA shedding from a plasma cell comprising administering one or more gamma secretase modulators or a derivative thereof to a subject having an immune system dysfunction, optionally wherein the immune system dysfunction is due to the expression of BCMA. 
     
     
         3 . A method of increasing the efficacy of a therapy in a subject being treated for a B cell condition or disorder comprising: administering the subject one or more gamma secretase modulators or a derivative thereof in addition to the existing treatment being provided to the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the immune system dysfunction is a B cell condition or disorder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is selected from the group consisting of: MM, WM, CLL, B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, plasmacytoma, Hodgkins' lymphoma, follicular lymphomas, small non-cleaved cell lymphomas, endemic Burkitt's lymphoma, sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, extranodal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, nodal monocytoid B cell lymphoma, splenic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, large cell lymphoma, diffuse mixed cell lymphoma, immunoblastic lymphoma, primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma, pulmonary B cell angiocentric lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma, B cell proliferations of uncertain malignant potential, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, an immunoregulatory disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, anti-phospholipid syndrome, Chagas' disease, Grave's disease, Wegener's granulomatosis, poly-arteritis nodosa, Sjogren's syndrome, pemphigus vulgaris, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, anti-phospholipid syndrome, ANCA associated vasculitis, Goodpasture's disease, Kawasaki disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, heavy-chain disease, primary or immunocyte-associated amyloidosis, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is a B cell malignancy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is a plasma cell malignancy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is selected from the group consisting of: MM, WM, CLL, and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is multiple myeloma. 
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is systemic lupus erythematosus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the B cell condition or disorder is selected from the group consisting of: idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, myasthenia gravis, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gamma secretase modulator is selected from the group consisting of: secretase inhibitor I (GSI I) Z-Leu-Leu-Norleucine; γ-secretase inhibitor II (GSI II); γ-secretase inhibitor III (GSI III), N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-leucinal, N-(2-Naphthoyl)-Val-phenylalaninal; γ-secretase inhibitor III (GSI IV); γ-secretase inhibitor III (GSI V), N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-phenylalaninal; γ-secretase inhibitor III (GSI VI), l-(S)-endo-N-(1,3,3)-Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-4-fluorophenyl Sulfonamide; γ-secretase inhibitor III (GSI VII), Menthyloxycarbonyl-LL-CHO; γ-secretase inhibitor III (GSI IX), (DAPT), N-[N-(3,5-Difluorophenacetyl-L-alanyl)]-S-phenylglycine t-Butyl Ester; γ-secretase inhibitor X (GSI X), {lS-Benzyl-4R-[l-(lS-carbamoyl-2-phenethylcarbamoyl)-lS-3-methylbutylcarb-amoyl]-2R-hydroxy-5-phenylpentyl}carbamic Acid tert-butyl Ester; γ-secretase inhibitor XI (GSI XI), 7-Amino-4-chloro-3-methoxyisocoumarin; γ-secretase inhibitor XII (GSI XII), Z-Ile-Leu-CHO; γ-secretase inhibitor XIII (GSI XIII), Z-Tyr-Ile-Leu-CHO; γ-secretase inhibitor XIV (GSI XIV), Z-Cys(t-Bu)-Ile-Leu-CHO; γ-secretase inhibitor XVI (GSI XVI), N-[N-3,5-Difluorophenacetyl]-L-alanyl-S-phenylglycine Methyl Ester; γ-secretase inhibitor XVII (GSI XVII); γ-secretase inhibitor XIX (GSI XIX), benzo[e][l,4]diazepin-3-yl)-butyramide; γ-secretase inhibitor XX (GSI XX), (S,S)-2-[2-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)acetylamino]-N-(5-methyl-6-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,d]azepin-7-yl)propionamide; γ-secretase inhibitor XXI (GSI XXI), (S,S)-2-[2-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)-acetylamino]-N-(l -methyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-2-,3-dihydro-lH-benzo[e][l,4]diazepin-3-yl)-propionamide; Gamma40 secretase inhibitor I,N-trans-3,5-Dimethoxycinnamoyl-Ile-leucinal; Gamma40 secretase inhibitor II, N-tert-Butyloxycarbonyl-Gly-Val-Valinal Isovaleryl-V V-Sta-A-Sta-OCH3; MK-0752 (Merck); MRK-003 (Merck); semagacestat/LY450139 (Eli Lilly); RO4929097; PF-03084,014; BMS-708163; MPC-7869 (γ-secretase modifier), YO-01027 (Dibenzazepine), Compound E ([(2S)-2-{[(3,5-Difluorophenyl)acetyl]amino}-N-[(3S)-1-methyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl]propanamide], available from Alexis Biochemicals), LY411575 (Eli Lilly and Co.), L-685,458 (Sigma-Aldrich), BMS-289948 (4-chloro-N-(2,5-difluorophenyl)-N-((1R)-{4-fluoro-2-[3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl]phenyl}ethyl)benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride) and BMS-299897 (4-[2-(1R)-1-{[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-2,5-difluoroanilino}ethyl)-5-fluorophenyl]butanoic acid) (Bristol Myers Squibb). 
     
     
         15 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gamma secretase modulator is intravenously administered to the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gamma secretase modulator is orally administered to the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subject is being treated with or has been previously treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, transplantation, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or photodynamic therapy. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subject is being treated with or has been previously treated for a B cell condition or disorder that targets BCMA on B cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subject has a refractory hematological malignancy.